Police hunt for 'crazy' motorway van surfer

POLICE are hunting a man who hung from the side of a van as it hurtled down a motorway at speeds in excess of 80mph.

Man on back of a vanSWNS

The workman is caught on camera saluting as he sped past lorries in the fast lane of the M40 on Good

The crazy man can be seen hanging from the side door of the KJ Rail work van while his colleagues laugh and joke inside the van.

The Vauxhall Vivaro was hurtling down the outside lane of the M40 in Oxfordshire, between junctions 9 and 8a, when the incident took place.

It was travelling so fast that other cars had to move out of the way, with the man hanging his full body – and even a leg –out of the vehicle.

The incident went on for five minutes, with the man dressed in an orange work jacket, pulling the stunt next to lorries.

Dentist James Hobkirk photographed the incident on his way south from Manchester to Kent.

Man on back of vanSWNS

The van travelled so fast other cars had to move out of the way

Mr Hobkirk, 37, said: “My wife was driving and she spotted something strange in the review mirror.

“I turned around and there was this guy in the outside lane hanging out of the van, saluting people as he went past.

"We were travelling about 65 in the middle lane and he came flying up behind us. He must have been doing about 80 to 85.

There were about four people in the back of the van and two in the front. They were all laughing.

“It’s not just dangerous, he was an idiot. Going high speed in the outside lane and doing that is crazy.”

Thames Valley Police are investigating the incident that took place on Good Friday.

A spokesman said: “Officers attended the scene and carried out an area search however the vehicle was not located. Inquiries are ongoing to trace the occupants of the vehicle.”

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